Centrifuge



R. F. COLE CENTRIFUGE May 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1965May 2, 1967 v R. F. COLE 3,317,127

CENTRIFUGE Filed Mar ch 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent3,317,127 CENTRIFUGE Richard F. Cole, Marblehead, Mass., assignor toArthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of MassachusettsFiled Mar. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 442,765 7 Claims. (Cl. 23326) The presentinvention relates to centrifuges and more particularly to a centrifugeaccessory for use with centrifuges which provide a drive spindle havingan exposed free end, and with a centrifuge bowl having an attached feedheader which remains stationary as the bowl is rotated.

In centrifuges of this type, for instance centrifuges shown in LatharnPatent 3,145,713, liquids, for example human blood, can advantageouslybe processed in various procedures involving centrifugal separation oflighter and heavier fractions, for example the red cells from othercomponents. Centrifugal treatment is carried out in a bowl tWhiCh issupported in a chuck on the centrifuge drive spindle for rotation duringthe processing. The infeed and outfeed lines through which liquid issupplied to and removed from the bowl remain stationary duringprocessing and accordingly the bowl is provided at one end with a feedheader connected with the bowl body by means permitting the bowl body torotate as the header remains stationary. If the header is supported onthe bowl body during the centrifuging ope-ration, as has been doneheretofore, the connection between the header and the bowl body mustinclude structure to support the header both radially and axially andmaintain it in proper coaxial relationship with the drive spindle, whilepermitting rotation between header and body. In some applications, forexample, in the processing of human blood for some purposes, theoperation must be carried out under sterile conditions and, accordingly,the connection between the feed header and the bowl body must furtherinclude a seal which will maintain sterility within the bowl and yetpermit rotation between bowl and header. The foregoing requirements havepresented problems and incorporation into the bowl of structureperforming both sealing and bearing functions has not been whollysatisfactory, and, especially if the bowl and header is a disposableunit, has unduly added to the cost of the unit. The present inventionaims to overcome the foregoing difficulties.

An object of the invention is to provide simple and effective meansforsupporting in predetermined fixed position the feed header of acentrifuge bowl of the type referred to. g

Another object of the invention is to provide such means in which theheader is supported independently of the bowl body.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for positioningthe bowl header which is part of the centrifuge installation, whereby asingle such unit serves the desired purpose for all the individual bowlunits which are processed on that installation.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide apparatus wherebythe header unit in such centrifuge bowls may be supported from the chuckwhich supports the centrifuge bowl, but independently of the bowl.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description of an illustrativeembodiment wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich FIG. 1 is a elevation partly broken away and in section; 7

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

3,3l7,l27 Patented May 2, 1967 FIG. 3 is a detail vertical sectionalview taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of 'FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view, partly broken away and in section,showing the relationship of the feed header to the means which supportit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view; and

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the invention the foregoing objects are accomplishedby providing a centrifuge accessory including a bowl chuck, constructedand arranged to be mounted on the free end of a centrifuge spindle tosupport the centrifuge bowl for rotation with the chuck and spindle, anda support member mounted on the chuck for relative rotary movementtherebetween about the spindle axis, the support member extendingradially outward from the spindle and axially of the spindle away fromits free end, and including a pair of arms pivoted at spaced points onthe support member for movement of their free ends toward and from eachother, the free ends meeting at the projected spindle axis. The arms areadapted to engage and support the bowl header in the desiredpredetermined fixed position spaced, along the spindle axis, from thefree end of the spindle a distance which is appropriate to the size ofthe centrifuge bowl, with the header accurately positioned with respectto the spindle axis. The arms are each provided with portions whichinterfit with mating portions on the other arm to accurately locate thefree ends of the arms with respect to each other and means is providedfor releasably locking the arms together when in position to engage theheader to clamp the header between them. The ends of the arms also areprovided with portions shaped to interfit with the header to hold it inposition and accurately locate it with respect to the arms when it isclamped between them. Means is provided for holding the supportingmember against rotation as the spindle and chuck rotate within it.

Referring now to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown inthe drawing, this is shown installed on a centrifuge having a frame 2,including an upstanding boss 4 through which the free end. of thespindle 6 projects upwardly. The spindle 6 is suitably journaled in thecentrifuge and provided with appropriate means for rotating it at highspeed. The upper free end of the spindle 6 is tapered upwardly as shownand provided with a threaded stud 8 extending from its free endcoaxially with the spindle. The centrifuge so far described is of knownconstruction.

The bowl holding chuck comprises a chuck body 10 having a hub 11 with aconical central bore 12 adapted to receive the tapered end of spindle 6for mounting the chuck on the spindle. A central counterbore 14 in theupper surface of the chuck body provides a recess .for the reception ofthe spindle nut 16 which, when threaded on the stud 8 and tightened downagainst the washer 18, fastens the .chuck body securely to the spindle.Rising from the upper surface of the chuck body is a peripheral flange20 having a cylindrical inner surface 22 'adapted to snugly receive thecylindrical bottom 24 of the centrifuge bowl 26. The interiorconstruction of the centrifuge bowl has not been shown in detail as suchdoes not form part of the present invention. The flange 20 includes 'anupwardly extending flange 28 of smaller diameter, as shown. A chuckclamp ring 30 has a cylindrical interior surface which fits on the outercylindrical surface of the flange 28 and an inwardly extending portion32 provided with a downwardly facing annular surface 34 overlying theannular top surface of the flange 28. An O-ring 36 is disposed betweenthe flange 28 and the surface 34-. Chuck bolts 38 secure the clamp ring39 to the flange 20 of the chuck body and may be tightened down tocompress the O-ring 36 into engagement with the bowl bottom 24 to retainthe bowl in the chuck. Rotation of spindle 6 thus rotates the bowl 26with the chuck.

Supported on the outer cylindrical surface 40 of the chuck hub 11 is asupport member 42. The support member 42 is provided with a hub 44having a central ver tic'al cylindrical opening surrounding the hub 11.Ball bearing units are disposed inside the hub 44 and on the outersurface 40 of the hub 11, whereby the supporting member 42 is carried onthe chuck so that the support member may remain stationary as the chuckrotates within it.

The support member 42 further includes an arm 48 extending radiallyoutwardly from the hub 44 and an arcuate portion 50 integral with arm 48and extending axially in the direction away from the free end of spindle6. The arm 48 is of such a length that the arcuate portion 50 isdisposed entirely outside the chuck body It) and bowl 26.

Mounted at spaced points on the top of the arcuate portion 56 is an arm52 and an arm 54. Each arm is mounted on the arcuate portion 50/ bymeans of a pivot pin 56 secured to the arcuate portion 50 by a bolt 58,these pivot pins 56 being adapted to maintain the arms accuratelypositioned on the arcuate portion 50 while permitting swinging movementof the free ends of the arms toward and from each other. Each arm isprovided with an car 60 adapted to lie in flat engagement (FIG. 3) withthe car on the other arm, when the ends of the arms are moved together.The ears 60 are provided with mating vertical bores which are alignedwith each other for the reception of a removable locking pin 62 whichholds the arms together to clamp the bowl header between them. Forconvenience, the locking pin 62 is connected to arcuate portion 50 by aflexible chain 64.

The arm 52 is provided with a pair of arm register disks 66 securedthereto by a rivet 68 adjacent an edge of the arm so as to extend beyondthe edge to overlap the other arm, 54, as the arms are closed tomaintain the ends of the arms in accurate vertical registry. The arm :52is provided with a handle 70 and the arm 54 with a similar handle 72 forconvenience in operating the arms.

The free ends of arms 52 and 54 are provided with means for engaging andaccurately locating the feed are moved together and locked by insertionof the lockng pln 62. In the embodiment shown, the feed header is in theform of a block 74 adapted to support a tubular lnfeed member 76extending downwardly through it to carry a discharge structure,including a discharge connection 80, details of construction of theinlet and outlet structures not being shown in detail. The bowl bodycarries a seal 81 engaging member 76. The header 74 is shaped to providea lower conical surface 82 (FIGS. and 6) and ribs 84, 86, one on eachside, having flat horizontal upper surfaces 88, 90 respectively. The arm52 is provided with a conical surface 92 and the arm 54 with 'a similarconical surface 94, adapted when the arms are in closed position as inFIGS. 2 and 5 to lie in a single conical surface complementary to theconical surface 82 on the header 74 to receive and locate the header.The arm 54 is provided with a clamp block 96 suitably bolted to it andhaving an overhanging portion 98 with a flat horizontal lower surface toengage the surface 90 of rib 86. The arm 52 is provided with a similarclamp block 100 for engagement with the surface 88 of the rib 84 (FIG.6). Thus by means of the mating conical surfaces and the clamp blocks96, 100 the header 74 is accurately located both axially and radiallyand held by the arms 52, 54 when they are in their closed positionlocked by the locking pin 62.

To hold the support member 42 against rotation as the chuck body 10 isrotated within it by spindle 6, there is provided a torque arm 102having a split sleeve 104 adapted to embrace the stationary boss 4 onthe centrifuge frame 2 and to be clamped thereon by tightening of thebolt 106. Fixed on the torque arm 102 is a pin 108 rising from the uppersurface of the torque arm 102 into position to engage the arm 48 of thesupport member and hold it against rotation.

The arms 52, 54 when locking pin 62 is removed may be swung aside, asshown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, to permit a centrifuge bowl 26 to beconveniently placed in the chuck, the chuck clamp ring bolts 38 beingtightened as needed to secure the centrifuge bowl in the chuck. When thearms 52, 54 are then swung together their outer ends engage the header74, the mating conical surfaces 82, 92 and 94 on header and armsaccurately locating the header and the clamp blocks 96, 100 engaging thesurfaces 88, of the header to hold it with its conical surface 82 seatedon the conical surfaces of the arms. Insertion of locking pin 62 thenlocks up the assembly in condition for operation of the centrifuge.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the invention has provided forsupport of a centrifuge bowl header independently of the bowl andaccurately located with respect to the axis of rotation, and alsoaxially of the bowl body. Mounting of the header support on the chuckassures constant and accurate location of the header supports withrespect to the centrifuge spindle end. This arrangement thus frees thedesigner of the header from any need to incorporate elaborate structurewithin the header for supporting it on the bowl body and the design ofthe connection between header and body can then be directed to otherfunctions, e.g., the sealing function, thus simplifying the design andcost of the bowl-header unit and contributing to efiicient and effectiveoperation.

I claim:

1. A centrifuge accessory for use with a centrifuge having a drivespindle with an exposed free end and a centrifuge bowl having a feedheader adapted to remain stationary as the bowl is rotated, comprising abowl chuck having means for mounting it on the spindle end for rotationtherewith and having means for supporting such a bowl for rotation withsaid chuck and spindle, means on said chuck for supporting said headerindependently of the bowl in predetermined fixed position spaced alongthe spindle axis from the free end of the spindle, and means, havingmeans for mounting it on said centrifuge, for holding said supportingmeans against rotation.

2. A centrifuge accessory for use with a centrifuge having a drivespindle with an exposed free end and a centrifuge bowl with a feedheader adapted to remain stationary as the bowl is rotated, comprising abowl chuck having means for mounting it on the spindle end for rotationtherewith and having means for supporting the centrifuge bowl thereonfor rotation with said chuck and spindle, a support member mounted onsaid chuck for rotation of the chuck with respect thereto, means on thesupport member for supporting the feed header of the bowl and holding itstationary in predetermined fixed position spaced along the spindle axisfrom the free end of the spindle, and means, having means for mountingit on said centrifuge, for holding the support member against rotation.

3. A centrifuge accessory for use with a centrifuge having a drivespindle with an exposed free end and a centrifuge bowl with a feedheader adapted to remain stationary as the bowl is rotated, comprising abowl chuck having means for mounting it on the spindle end for rotationtherewith and having means for supporting the centrifuge bowl thereonfor rotation with said chuck and spindle, a support member on said chuckon a bearing permitting said member to remain stationary as said chuckrotates but restraining said member against other movement, means on thesupport member for supporting the feed header of the bowl and holding itstationary in predetermined fixed position spaced along the spindle axisfrom the free end of the spindle, and means, having means for mountingit on said centrifuge, for holding the support member against rotation.

4. A centrifuge accessory for use with a centrifuge having a drivespindle with an exposed free end and a centrifuge bowl with a feedheader adapted to remain stationary as the bowl is rotated, comprising abowl chuck having means for mounting it on the spindle end for rotationtherewith and having means for supporting the centrifuge bowl thereonfor rotation with said chuck and spindle, a support member mounted onsaid chuck for rotation of the chuck with respect thereto, a pair ofarms pivoted on said support member for swinging movement of their freeends toward and from each other, means on the ends of said arms adaptedwhen said ends are moved together to interfit with said feed header ofthe bowl and hold it stationary in predetermined fixed position spacedalong the spindle axis from the free end of the spindle, means on saidaccessory for releasably locking said free ends together when in saidinterfitting positions, and means, having means for mounting it on saidcentrifuge, for holding the support member against rotation.

5. A centrifuge comprising a drive spindle having a free end, a bowlchuck mounted on said spindle end for rotation therewith, a centrifugebowl having one end supported in said chuck for rotation with said chuckand spindle, said bowl having at its opposite end a feed header adaptedto remain stationary when the bowl is rotated, means on said chuck forsupporting said header independently of the bowl in predetermined fixedposition spaced along the spindle axis from the free end of the spindle,and means mounted on the centrifuge for preventing rotation of saidsupporting means,

6. A centrifuge comprising a drive spindle with a free end, a bowl chuckmounted on said spindle end for rotation therewith, a centrifuge bowlhaving one end supported in said chuck for rotation with said chuck andspindle, said bowl having at its opposite end a feed header adapted toremain stationary when the bowl is rotated, a support member mounted onsaid chuck for rotation of the chuck with respect thereto, means on thesupport member for supporting the feed header of the bowl and holding itstationary in predetermined fixed position spaced along the spindle axisfrom the free end of the spindle, and means mounted on said centrifugefor holding the support member against rotation.

7. A centrifuge comprising a drive spindle with a free end, a bowl chuckmounted on said spindle end for rotation therewith, a centrifuge bowlhaving one end supported in said chuck for rotation with said chuck andspindle, said bowl having at its opposite end a feed header adapted toremain stationary when the bowl is rotated, a support member mounted onsaid chuck for rotation of the chuck with respect thereto, a pair ofarms pivoted on said support member for swinging movement of their freeends toward and from each other, means on the end of each arm adaptedwhen said ends are moved together to interfit with said feed header ofthe bowl and hold it stationary in predetermined fixed position spacedalong the spindle axis from the free end of the spindle, means forreleasably locking said free ends together when in said inter-fittingpositions, and means mounted on said centrifuge for holding the supportmember against rotation.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,484 8/1937 Tomlinson. 3,073,517 1/ 1963 Pickels et a1. 3,129,174 4/ 1964Pickels et a1. 3,145,713 8/ 1964 Latham.

M, CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A CENTRIFUGE ACCESSORY FOR USE WITH A CENTRIFUGE HAVING A DRIVESPINDLE WITH AN EXPOSED FREE END AND A CENTRIFUGE BOWL HAVING A FEEDHEADER ADAPTED TO REMAIN STATIONARY AS THE BOWL IS ROTATED, COMPRISING ABOWL CHUCK HAVING MEANS FOR MOUNTING IT ON THE SPINDLE END FOR ROTATIONTHEREWITH AND HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SUCH A BOWL FOR ROTATION WITHSAID CHUCK AND SPINDLE, MEANS ON SAID CHUCK FOR SUPPORTING SAID HEADERINDEPENDENTLY OF THE BOWL IN PREDETERMINED FIXED POSITION SPACED ALONGTHE SPINDLE AXIS FROM THE FREE END OF THE SPINDLE, AND MEANS, HAVINGMEANS FOR MOUNTING IT ON